Cdse/Zns Capped Thiolate for Application in Glucose Sensing

¹Industrial Biotechnology Research Centre (IBRC), SIRIM Berhad, No. 1, Persiaran Dato’ Menteri, Section 2, P.O. Box 7035, 40700 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

²Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

³Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

⁴Advance Material Research Centre (AMREC), SIRIM Berhad, Lot 34, Jalan Hi-Tech 2/3, Kulim Hi-Tech Park, 09000 Kulim, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia

*Corresponding Author:

Samsulida Abd. Rahman
Industrial Biotechnology Research Centre (IBRC)
SIRIM Berhad, No. 1, Persiaran Dato’ Menteri, Section 2
P.O. Box 7035, 40700 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +60-355446963
E-mail: sulida@sirim.my

Received date: December 19, 2016; Accepted date: January 27, 2017; Published date: February 07, 2016

Citation: Rahman SA, Ariffin N, Yusof NA, Abdullah J, Zubir ZA, et al. (2017) Cdse/Zns Capped Thiolate for Application in Glucose Sensing. Biosens J 6:143. doi:10.4172/2090-4967.1000143

Copyright: © 2017 Rahman SA, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Abstract

A semiconducting water soluble core-shell quantum dot (QD) capped with thiolated ligand is used in this study for application in glucose sensing. These QDs were prepared in house based on hot injection technique. The ZnS shell at the outer surface of CdSe core QDs is made via specific process namely, SILAR (successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction). The distribution, morphology and optical characteristics of prepared core shell QDs have been assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectrofluorescence, respectively. The results show that the mean particle size of prepared QDs is in the range of 10-12 nm and the optimum emission condition was displayed at 620nm. The prepared CdSe/ZnS core shell QDs were modified by utilizing six organic ligands L-cysteine, L-histidine, thio-glycolic acid (TGA), mercapto-propionic acid (MPA), mercapto-succinic acid (MSA) and mercapto-undecanoic acid (MUA) at room temperature through a ligand-exchange procedure. This ligand exchange process was chosen in order to produce a very dense water solubilizing agent the QDs surrounding surface. The result shows that CdSe/ZnS capped with thioglycolic acid (CdSe/ZnS-TGA) exhibit the strongest fluorescence emission; therefore it was used in advanced sensing application for the detection of glucose. The highly active CdSe/ZnS-TGA was then interacted with Glucose Oxidase enzyme (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase enzyme (HRP). In this study, determination of glucose level is depending on the QDs fluorescence intensity quenching effect, which is correlated to reaction of the conjugated enzyme-QDs. In the presence of 0.1 mM glucose, fluorescence intensity of the bioconjugate QDs was quenched about 12, 000 a.u. This bioconjugated GOX/HRP/QDs-capped TGA was further analyzed with known concentrations of glucose. Quenched fluorescence intensity was proportionate with glucose concentration. The resultant GOX/HRP/QDs-capped TGA system can be a suitable platform for glucose determination in real samples.

Keywords

Semiconducting; Water-soluble; Core shell quantum dots; Modification; QDs-capped TGA; Conjugated

Introduction

Nanomaterials have special characteristics as reported in many article previously. Substantial surface area, superior reaction surface activity and higher catalytic efficiency [1] are some of their special features. Due to this reason, nanomaterials were selected as prospective transducers in enzyme based bioconjugated sensor. Substantial surface area of nanomaterials allows the absorption of enzyme happened quickly and efficiently. Besides, it also can minimizes the enzyme aggregation and protein unfolding, thus resulting in more stable nanomaterials-enzyme systems [2,3].

There are several nanomaterials that previously reported in biosensor application such as gold nanomaterials [4], carbon nanotubes [5], magnetic nanoparticles [6], titania nanoparticles [7], silica nanoparticles [8] and quantum dots (QDs) [9-14]. Among all of these nanomaterials, QDs are more favorable since they exhibit broad excitation and narrow emission wavelength. Besides, the QDs emission wavelength can be tunable. They also contain other special features such as extremely luminescent, photoresistant and potential utilization in biosensor. This is because their high ratio of surface-to-volume, higher catalytic efficiency and bigger reaction activity surface [1].

Water soluble QDs have fascinated an increasing passion in numerous research areas like biosensor and bioimaging because QDs have shown good compatibility characteristics to the physiological medium. Additionally, the development of biosensor utilizing bioconjugated system of QDs-enzyme serves for dual purpose; one is the immobilization of enzyme and second is application in biosensing based on changes in fluorescence intensity [15]. Fluorescence emission wavelength of the QDs is tunable via adjusting QDs size and customizing the nature of capping molecules, which are liable for surface charges modification for bimolecular coupling [16].

Many papers has been reported on the usage of QDs in diagnostic and sensoring system for healthcare monitoring such as labelling of cancer cell [17], cell imaging [18], drug delivery and virus detection [19]. Apart from that, QDs also are most familiar in the detection of glucose level. CdSe/ZnS is one of the types of core shell QDs that being prepared for biosensing applications [20-22]. It reported previously that CdSe/ZnS core shell QDs are extremely high fluorescent intensity in the visible spectrum and in addition, this ZnS outer layer increased their chemical and photostability.

Normally, CdSe/ZnS core-shell QDs has been prepared using high temperature in organic solvent and stabilized in hydrophobic solvents like trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) and oleic acid. Since, this preparation method resulted in QDs soluble in solvents, several method have been studied to substitute TOPO and/or oleic acid with other organic ligands that soluble in water. However, the exchange of TOPO and/or oleic acid with other organic ligands generates several problems such as lessen quantum yield [23-26]. Gill et al. have been reported previously that the quantum yield of their synthesized QDs has been decreased by 50% as CdSe/ZnS QDs were modified with MPA [24]. The same situation has been reported by Stsiapura et al. (2006). In their studies, the quantum yield of their synthesized QDs has been depreciated two times when mixtures of MAA/MSA were used as ligand exchanger [25]. In addition, they also exhibit less colloidal stability where the QDs have low tendency to reside individual dispersing and more likely to form aggregates.

In this research, CdSe/ZnS core-shell QDs has been prepared using high temperature in organic solvent and stabilized with hydrophobic capping solvents such as TOPO and oleic acid [26]. Because of these QDs are not soluble in water, so ligand exchange methods have been utilized to modify the QDs surfaces for biosensing applications. The heterobifunctional ligands such as mercaptocarbonic acids and thiolated ligands will replace TOPO/oleic acid, where the mercapto or thiolated ends will be binds on the surface of the QDs while the carboxyl moiety offers water solubility [19,27]. Generally, thick shell restricts the usefulness of the core-shell QDs in biosensing application. This is due to the shell that limits the electron transfer to reach the core QDs. In this case, mercaptocarbonic or thiolated ligands will be used in order to prevent the limitation of electron transfer thus will prepare a best water solubilizing shell around the CdSe/ZnS QDs. So, these hydrophilic QDs are highly suitable for biosensing area.

As resulted in our previously studied [26], the core-shell CdSe/ZnS capped TGA, MPA and MSA displayed no signs of aggregation and these QDs are fully soluble in PBS buffer pH 7, thereby suggesting that high stability of the aqueous dispersions. Among of these three ligands, CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA shown highest fluorescent intensity response compared to other ligands. This results happen because of the ligand size where the smaller size of ligand will increased the aggregation level (TGA<MPA<MSA) because of the reducing of steric repulsion, thus mean intensity will be reduced. This rule is also agreed by Amit et al., [15]. The TGA ligand was smallest against MPA and MSA resulting in highest fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity of prepared CdSe/ZnS core-shell QDs remains stable after being modified with TGA.

Due to this successful result, hereby we are reporting the use of CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA QDs in sensing application for glucose detection. We aim to prepare conjugated enzyme-QDs for glucose detection.

Results

Characterization of CdSe/ZnS core-shell QDs

Characterization of CdSe/ZnS QDs without and with capping ligand, TGA were shown and discussed thoroughly in our previous reported paper [26]. In short, the photoluminescent (PL) peak for CdSe core was occurred at 532.5 nm and full width at half maximum (FWHM) was 28.5 nm whereby, it indicated that good formation of monodisperse nanomaterials (results not shown). The PL peak of CdSe/ ZnS core shell was obtained at 572.5 nm The PL intensity was increased due to the encapsulation of ZnS shell onto the CdSe core (results not shown). The wavelength moved about 40 nm towards right between core and core shell. The CdSe and CdSe/ZnS have uniform sizes about 3 - 3.2 nm and 10 - 12 nm, respectively and it shows good colloidal nanoparticles. The distribution of QDs size was uniform, reasonable and monodisperse.

Afterwards, the prepared CdSe/ZnS core-shell QDs was capped via several ligands in order to make the QDs is water soluble. Since, CdSe/ ZnS-capped TGA exhibit highest fluorescence emission among the other ligands, this CdSe/ZnS-capping TGA will be used in this glucose detection studies.

Basic principle of glucose detection using CdSe/ZnS capped TGA

Basic principle for CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA nanomaterials for glucose detection can be viewed in Figure 1. The determination of glucose in this research is depending on the enzymatic reaction of glucose and the effect of presence of H₂O₂ on intensity of QDs fluorescence. In the presence of glucose, GOx have been catalyzed glucose to gluconic acid in the oxidation process via using the oxygen molecule as an electron acceptor and H₂O₂ will be produce simultaneously. The exchange of the electron happened at the outer surface of the core-shell QDs whereby H₂O₂ is reducing to oxygen and H₂O is trap in electron holes at the surface of the QDs. These were resulted in non-fluorescent QDs anion and cause a reduction in fluorescence intensity. The higher glucose concentrations used, more H₂O₂ will be produced and resulted in big quenching effect.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram for glucose detection.

The parameter optimizations that have been studied were pH condition, enzyme ratio and QDs concentration. These parameter optimizations are important on the glucose biosensing and these optimizations were analyzed by using a mixture of GOx/HRP and TGAQDs as displayed in Figure 2. Firstly, the optimization of pH buffer on the fluorescence intensity quenching of the CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA was examined. Figure 2 shows that the quenching effect of the CdSe/ ZnScapped TGA was increased with the increasing of pH buffer value until it reached the optimum condition at pH 7. This is because glucose being in cyclic hemiacetal form at pH 7 where the β-D-glucopyranose and the α-D-glucopyranose is about 63.6% and 36.4%, respectively. The specific binding occurred between GOx and β-D-glucopyranose. However, this binding was not act on α-D-glucopyranose. The equilibrium state between the α-β anomers were pushed towards the β-side since it consumed in the reaction. Due to this equilibrium resulted in the ability of the glucose oxidase to oxidize all of the glucose in solution. The intensity was dropped after pH 7 because the glucose oxidase will slowly denature in base condition.

Figure 2: pH Effect, enzyme ratio and QDs concentration studies.

From the result shown in Figure 2, we can see that highest intensity was determined by using 1.25 mg/ml of QDs. However, the intensity of the QDs was decreased when highest QDs concentration was introduced into the reaction. This is due to the toxicity of the CdSe/ZnS at higher concentration resulted in the enzyme denaturation thus effect the decreasing of intensity of the QDs. Therefore, QDs concentration of 1.25 mg/ml will be used for next studies.

The reaction mechanism for glucose detection that depend on the effect of the CdSe/ZnS fluorescence intensity quenching has successfully proved and the result as shown in Figure 3. From this figure, it shows that the intensity of prepared QDs was maintained in the absence of GOx/HRP enzymes and glucose. However, in the presence of GOx/ HRP and glucose, the reaction occurred, resulted in the quenched of the QDs intensity.

Figure 3: The fluorescent spectra of CdSe/ZnS QDs (orange line), CdSe/ZnS in the presence of 0.1 M glucose (blue line) and ratio 2:1 of enzymes (Gox:HRP) (red line), yellow line shows the fluorescent spectra of CdSe/ZnS containing (Gox:HRP, 2:1) after addition of 0.1 M glucose. All spectra were recorded after mixing the components for 30 min.

The calibrations were performed for a several time and assay were done trice for each time assay as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the inset of Figure 4 showed that there was a good linearity between quenched intensity of the CdSe/ZnS and glucose level are ranging from 0 to 10 mM. The corresponding regression coefficient was about 0.998. The limit of detection (LOD) was obtained at 0.045. The LOD was calculated through 3σ/s; with the s is the slope of calibration graph while the σ is the standard deviation of corrected blank from the signals of fluorescent of the CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA QDs.

Figure 4: Fluorescence intensity of CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA core shell QDs via various glucose levels from 0 to 40 mM. The inset showed the relationship between intensity and glucose concentration. The calibration curve were done triplicate using different batch of CdSe/ZnS.

Materials and Methods

Preparation of core, shell, core-shell and surface modification of core-shell QDs has been discussed previously in our proceeding journal, Samsulida Abd. Rahman et al. [26]. So, it will not be discussed further in this paper.

Materials and Apparatus

CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA core-shell QDs was made in house. N-ethyl-3- (3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), N-hydroxy sulfosuccinimide (sulfo-NHS), glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were purchased from Sigma, respectively. Solution of PBS buffer, pH 7 has been prepared in house by adding disodium hydrogen diphosphate (NaH₂PO₄) and sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH₂PO₄) until reach pH 7. Both Na₂HPO₄ and NaH₂PO₄ were purchased from Scharlau. All the starting materials for enzyme conjugation and glucose detection were directly used without any further purification.

The experiment was performed from wavelength 300-800 nm with absorbance less than 0.1 at wavelength 480 nm. The assay solution for fluorescence measurements was place into a cuvette. The spectrums of emission for the entire sample were determined by utilizing Novacure spectrophotometer, EFOS and mercury lamp was act as their source of light. Excitation wavelength for the entire assay was specific at 375 nm.

Study of conjugation of CdSe/ZnS QDs with glucose oxidase enzyme in aqueous system

Add 2.3 μl of EDC and 1 mg of NHS into the beaker that contain of 5 ml of CdSe/Zn-TGA. Mix the solutions for 30 min and simultaneously add 25 μl (GOx) and 10 μl (HRP), respectively. Continue stirring for another 2 hours before centrifugation process at 12000 rpm for 10 min. Re-dissolved the solution with PBS pH 7 and stored at 4 °C for the next usage. All the characterization of the conjugated CdSe/ZnS-QDs with glucose oxidase enzyme will be determined using spectrofluorescence technique. Characterization of the enzyme conjugation and interaction will also be evaluated by mixing different ratio of QDs-enzyme (1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4) in the assay system. For analytical performance of the bioconjugation QDs-enzyme system, the stability, interference study, repeatibility and reproducibility of the system will be evaluated.

Conclusions

In summary, we have demonstrated a CdSe/ZnS capped TGA water soluble core-shell QDs for determination of glucose. The spectrofluorescence signals of the prepared CdSe/ZnS-capped TGA QDs were quenched by glucose successively. The parameter optimization of the reaction optimum conditions includes effect of pH, enzyme ratio and concentrations of QDs have been discussed. An extremely good linearity for glucose determination in range between 0 - 10 mM and obtained the LOD at 0.045 mM. The fluorescence nanosensor for glucose detection with sensitive, selective and convenient assay procedure has been established and this procedure will be analysing using real samples.

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